The Ridge

We are quite the hiking family lately.  Today, the boys and I hiked "the ridge" of Ganier "mountain" at our local park.  I tend to call it a "mountain" because the kids love to think they are mountain climbing.  Anyway, it's a pretty strenuous hike for little ones.  

We saw a deer with "spikes" ... Isn't that what you call the horns when they are just beginning to grow?  The camera wouldn't get a good picture ... kind of reminds me of those "Big Foot" photos that you see from time to time.  :)

We also found a caterpiller and several other animals.  I think Hank documented them on paper (He stopped and drew pictures of each new animal).  I'll scan his page of drawings and post on his blog soon.

Hank brought his back pack and Bible and the boys all wanted to read some stories when we would stop on the trail benches to rest.  We read (and discussed ... very interesting discussion about what heaven will be like) the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet and of Jesus telling the disciples where to cast their nets to pull in a huge number of fish.

The boys tried to "carve" their names in the benches with a pencil.  Next time, they will be packing a pocket knife so they can leave behind their names!  :)

By the end of hiking, Jackson wanted to be carried and BJ was fed up with Jackson's moving along so slow.  BJ was ready to be done with hiking and Jackson was still stopping to look under every rock and big log for frogs or worms.  BJ is SO becoming a teen-ager ... It's scary!  :)